El Nino returns to Pacific, likely to worsen
El Nino has officially returned to the tropical Pacific, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that the climate phenomenon is likely to intensify during
El Nino has officially returned to the tropical Pacific, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that the climate phenomenon is likely to intensify during the ongoing southwest monsoon season.In an update issued on Friday, the weather agency said sea surface temperatures across the equatorial Pacific have risen sufficiently for El Nino conditions to develop, while atmospheric circulation patterns have also begun responding to the warming trend.The IMD said projections from its Monsoon Mission Coupled Forecast System (MMCFS) indicate that El Nino conditions are expected to strengthen further in the coming months.The weather phenomenon is a naturally occurring climate incident marked by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.It is closely monitored in India because of its potential to influence monsoon rainfall, agricultural output and water availability.
Historically, El Nino years have often been associated with weaker monsoons and uneven rainfall distribution across the country.The last El Nino episode developed in 2023. Since 2000, similar conditions have emerged in 2002, 2009 and 2015, years that witnessed varying degrees of monsoon disruption and rainfall variability across India.Govt's contingency plansAmid concerns over the evolving weather pattern, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the Central government has identified 197 districts that are considered most vulnerable to the impact of El Nino and has drawn up state-specific contingency plans to mitigate risks."The concern about El Nino is always on my mind 24x7.
Not definitive, but 197 districts are identified as most vulnerable," Chouhan told reporters.The minister said the Agriculture Ministry is conducting weekly reviews to monitor developments and assess potential risks to crops.As a precautionary measure, the government has stockpiled seeds and other critical agricultural inputs to ensure a quick response if weather conditions deteriorate."We have prepared a contingency plan for each state. We will leave no stone unturned to tackle this," Chouhan said.The ministry has also launched a nationwide farmer outreach programme, 'Khet Bachao Abhiyan', aimed at spreading awareness about precautionary measures and climate-resilient farming practices.The heightened preparedness comes as the IMD has forecast the southwest monsoon at around 90 per cent of the long-period average, indicating a below-normal rainfall season.Officials have cautioned that agricultural risks could rise if El Nino strengthens during the second half of the monsoon.The southwest monsoon entered Kerala on June 4 and has since advanced steadily northward.
The BriefWire